Title
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra Concert Funding (B)
This item involves a request from the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra to change the intended use of funds previously allocated by the City of Gainesville for support services for the "Pops on the Plaza" concert event.
Explanation
In January 2004, the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra ("Orchestra") requested support for their outdoor free concert, "Pops on the Plaza." The City Commission elected to support the request, and in 2005, stipulated that the funding be included in the Cultural Affairs Division's annual budget. The amount of the support has been budgeted at $5,000, with the intent that it assist with costs for support services necessary to have a large, outdoor community event on the scale the Orchestra envisioned. Support services for the venue included security (Gainesville Police Department) and various other city services for street closures and clean-up.
The Orchestra has received $5,000 each year until 2009, when the amount was reduced to $4,748 due to overall budgetary reductions. An additional 10% cut was approved for FY 2010 due to budget constraints so the remaining allocation is $4,273.
On February 15, 2010, Orchestra Chief Operating Officer Thomas Rider sent a letter to City Manager Russ Blackburn indicating that the Orchestra has encountered financial constraints this year, and has had to reduce its performance season by one concert. They are requesting that the funds allocated for "Pops on the Plaza" used for City support services be applied instead toward the cost to produce their May performance concert, "The Planets" at the UF Phillips Center for Performing Arts. It is the Orchestra's intent with "The Planets" to reach out and draw to their performances the many families who might not normally attend their "Pops" concert on the Plaza.
Fiscal Note
Budget reductions implemented for FY2010 have impacted the funding available for this program. Funds for Orchestra's eve...
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